“Zhamanak” carries an interview with Ariel Cohen, a well-known analyst with the U.S. think-tank Heritage Foundation. Cohen says Azerbaijan has essentially agreed to the idea of holding a referendum on Nagorno-Karabakh’s status that could eventually legitimize Armenian control over the territory. “But in the meantime, Armenia must end the occupation of territories [around Karabakh,]” he is quoted as saying. “I am not optimistic about chances of that happening soon because Armenia has preferred to normalize relations with Turkey first and the status quo on both fronts now seems inevitable.”

Ara Gocunian, editor of the Turkish-Armenian newspaper “Zhamanak,” tells “Aravot” that the latest genocide resolutions approved by lawmakers in the United States and Sweden could reflect negatively on the Turkish authorities’ treatment of their citizens of Armenian descent. “There has been no extreme impact,” he says, adding that the mainstream Turkish media is anxious to ward off any verbal attacks on the Turkish-Armenian community.

“Hayots Ashkhar” dismisses opposition claims that Armenia’s leadership is now desperately struggling to cope with a “severe diplomatic situation.” The paper says it is not sure that the leaders of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) actually believe in what they are saying. It argues that the genocide resolutions in the U.S. and Sweden are enough to disprove the opposition claims.

Interviewed by “Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun,” Miasnik Malkhasian, a prominent opposition figure and former deputy chairman of the Yerkrapah Union, complains that opposition supporters seeking regime change in Armenia pin too much hope on veterans of the Karabakh war. “People themselves don’t fight and pin their hopes on Yerkrapah or one or another individual,” says Malkhasian. “If one or two hundred thousand people stay in a square for a couple of days, they will achieve what they want,” he argues. “In order to lead a dignified life, you have to fight doggedly and continuously, you must not act like an observer.”

“Azg” says that the Public Council set up by President Serzh Sarkisian has produced “nothing except empty words” during its one-year existence. “For one year, members of the council have only been busy fruitlessly exchanging views,” editorializes the paper. “Not surprisingly, that structure has never earned public trust.” It says none of the politicians and public figures sitting on the council is known to have made a major statement contradicting government views and policies.